Kyle Pott

Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, reflects on his own career (which includes majoring in economics, picking up an MBA, and working at a bank and a phone company before becoming a world-renowned cartoonist) and gives his thoughts on what it takes to develop a successful career.

If you want an average successful life, it doesn't take much planning. Just stay out of trouble, go to school, and apply for jobs you might like. But if you want something extraordinary, you have two paths:

1. Become the best at one specific thing.

2. Become very good (top 25%) at two or more things.

The first strategy is difficult to the point of near impossibility. Few people will ever play in the NBA or make a platinum album. I don't recommend anyone even try.